Heritage will honor Ryan's top staffer even as it tries to upend GOP budget

The conservative Heritage Foundation is throwing a "reception" to honor Speaker Paul Ryan's chief of staff David Hoppe, even as its lobbying arm tries to derail the House Republican leadership's 2017 budget.

Heritage Foundation President Jim DeMint and former president Ed Feulner are listed as the hosts of the Thursday evening event, which is scheduled to be held at the Heritage Foundation's Pennsylvania Avenue headquarters, according to a source familiar with the event.

Story Continued Below

Hoppe, who joined Ryan's (R-Wis.) staff when he became speaker, is a longtime Capitol Hill hand. He worked for former Rep. Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.) — Ryan's political mentor — former Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and former Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.). He also worked as a lobbyist for many years and he was a staffer at the Heritage Foundation.

Heritage Action, which, according to its website works to "take the conservative policy visions outlined by our sister organization, The Heritage Foundation, and make them a reality," is in the middle of working against Republican leadership as they try to get a 2017 fiscal blueprint passed.

"This month, the new leadership team will ask conservatives to support [an elevated] budget level," Heritage Action wrote in a memo. "Not only is it $30 billion above what conservatives agreed to in the last budget resolution, but the elevated spending level was unanimously supported by congressional Democrats. The elevated BBA funding level has no business being in a conservative Republican budget blueprint."

"Yes, Heritage is hosting a reception," said Dan Holler, a Heritage Action spokesman. "And yes, conservatives have concerns with the budget, which is why we are working with lawmakers to improve the budget and unite the party."

Top Republican leaders like Ryan and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) have been working over members of the Budget Committee in an attempt to win a committee vote later this month.